Jekyll Island, Georgia Short-Term Rental Market
Jekyll Island, GA STRs averaged $360/night at 62.4% occupancy in April 2026, drawing from 3 million annual island visitors.
Quick Answer: Jekyll Island, Georgia is an active short-term rental market. average occupancy is 73%. average monthly revenue is $8,224. average daily rate is $421. the top operator is Hodnett Cooper Vacation Rentals with 349 listings. market score is 55/100 (grade D).
Market data reflects the Amelia/St. Simons/Jekyll Islands regional market, which includes Jekyll Island. Regulations, taxes, and permit details below are specific to Jekyll Island.
Market Score Breakdown
Five dimensions Apivex evaluates per market.
Market Overview
Jekyll Island is one of Georgia’s four Golden Isles, a state-owned barrier island managed by the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA). The island draws an estimated 3 million visitors annually to its 10 miles of beaches, 250-acre Historic Landmark District, four golf courses, and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The STR market here is one of the strongest Georgia coastal performers by both rate and occupancy.
In April 2026, the market posted an average daily rate of $360 and occupancy of 62.4%, generating average monthly revenue of $5,818 per listing. RevPAR stood at $224.29. April 2026 outperformed the historical April average of 58.8%, suggesting demand conditions are healthy heading into the summer peak.
The listing mix is almost entirely entire-place: 5,304 entire-place units versus 90 private rooms. By bedroom count, 2-bedroom properties are the largest segment at 1,986 units, followed by 3-bedroom (1,802), 1-bedroom (715), 4-bedroom (596), and 5-bedroom-plus (291). Channel distribution is distinctive: 3,495 listings appear on both Airbnb and VRBO, 989 are Airbnb-only, and 910 are VRBO-only, the most balanced dual-listing split among the five markets in this batch.
Year-over-year in April 2026, occupancy was down 2.24 percentage points while ADR held nearly flat (+0.05%) and revenue grew 1.23%. The 2025 full-year average was 54.5% occupancy at $329 ADR and $4,894 monthly revenue.
Seasonal Patterns
| Month | Occupancy | ADR | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40% | $232 | $2,446 |
| Feb | 63% | $238 | $3,168 |
| Mar | 68% | $293 | $4,671 |
| Apr | 59% | $304 | $4,516 |
| May | 57% | $316 | $4,635 |
| Jun | 73% | $355 | $6,667 |
| Jul | 74% | $335 | $6,515 |
| Aug | 48% | $295 | $3,997 |
| Sep | 46% | $273 | $3,346 |
| Oct | 51% | $279 | $3,543 |
| Nov | 40% | $270 | $2,926 |
| Dec | 36% | $261 | $2,639 |
Top Short-Term Rental Operators in Jekyll Island
Ranked by total active listings. Useful for understanding the competitive landscape.
| # | Operator | Listings | Reviews | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hodnett Cooper Vacation Rentals | 349 | 6,784 | ★ 4.72 |
| 2 | Vacasa | 292 | 9,241 | ★ 4.56 |
| 3 | RedAwning | 236 | 4,646 | ★ 4.46 |
| 4 | Lighthouse Vacations | 187 | 8,334 | ★ 4.86 |
| 5 | Real Escapes | 184 | 6,523 | ★ 4.68 |
What Kind of STR Should I Buy in Jekyll Island?
Revenue and pricing by property type, tier, and bedroom count.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
| 1 bed | 715 |
| 2 bed | 1,986 |
| 3 bed | 1,802 |
| 4 bed | 596 |
| 5 bed | 291 |
ADR by Property Tier
| Entire Home | $424 |
| Luxury | $714 |
| Professionally Managed | $478 |
Revenue by Dwelling Type
| Apartment | $7,673 |
| Entire Place | $8,313 |
| House | $8,949 |
Booking Channel Mix
Distribution of bookings across major STR platforms.
| Channel | Share |
|---|---|
| airbnb | 18.3% |
| vrbo | 16.9% |
| both | 64.8% |
Investment Analysis
Jekyll Island’s rental demand score of 86.43 and investability score of 84.49 are the two strongest dimensions, reflecting the island’s structural demand advantage as one of Georgia’s most-visited destinations. The overall market score of 54.56 is moderated by a revenue growth score of 49.35, indicating the market has matured from its post-pandemic surge.
At the ADR tier level, April 2026 all-listing ADR was $360. Entire-home listings averaged $363, nearly identical to the market average given the near-universal entire-place supply. Professionally managed listings averaged $407, a 13% premium. The luxury tier averaged $608, a 69% premium over the market average.
House-type listings generated $6,255 in April revenue versus $5,874 for entire-place and $5,481 for apartments. No property purchase price data is available for this market: Jekyll Island properties sit on long-term land leases from the JIA rather than fee-simple ownership, so standard Zillow home-value estimates are not produced for this island. Investors must research lease terms and acquisition costs independently.
A key financial consideration unique to Jekyll Island is the JIA percentage rent of 3% of gross rental revenues, remitted monthly. At the April average of $5,818 per month, the JIA percentage rent costs approximately $175 per month per listing before any other expenses. This is in addition to the $75 annual license fee and occupancy taxes.
Revenue has grown from $2,625 per month (2017 annual average) to $4,894 per month (2025 annual average), a roughly 86% increase over eight years.
Revenue Trend (5 yr)
ADR & Occupancy Trends (5 yr)
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The average booking lead time on Jekyll Island is 64.1 days, just over 9 weeks before arrival. This is consistent with a destination beach market where visitors plan vacations well in advance, particularly for summer peak weeks in June and July. The long lead time creates meaningful pricing opportunity: operators can hold high rates in the 60-90 day window and assess fill only after the 30-day mark.
Average length of stay is 4.33 nights, the longest among the five markets in this batch. This reflects a genuine beach vacation pattern where travelers commit to a full week or extended long weekend. Longer stays reduce turnover frequency but increase per-booking cleaning and supply costs per night.
At 4.33 nights average and 62.4% April occupancy, the average listing generates roughly 4-5 bookings per month in April. The combination of a 64-day lead time and 4.3-night stays suggests the majority of revenue is booked well in advance, making last-minute discounting largely unnecessary for well-priced properties in peak season.
Short-Term Rental Regulations
Jekyll Island’s STR regulatory environment is unique in the United States. The island is state-owned, and all residences sit on long-term land leases from the Jekyll Island Authority rather than fee-simple real estate. This makes the JIA both the licensor and a revenue participant.
Every operator must obtain a rental license from the JIA before renting. The annual license fee is $75 (raised from $30 in 2023). Licenses are property-specific and non-transferable: buyers of an existing rental property must apply for their own license. Properties must pass inspection before a license is issued. There is no published statutory cap on annual rental nights and no owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement.
In addition to the license, operators owe JIA percentage rent equal to 3% of gross rental revenues, remitted monthly in the same manner as the Georgia hotel-motel tax. The combined tax load includes the 5% Jekyll Island hotel-motel tax, 7% Georgia state sales tax, and a $5 per night Georgia State Hotel-Motel Fee. Airbnb and VRBO typically collect and remit the Georgia state sales tax and state fee automatically.
Some areas on the island are designated residential-only where overnight rentals are not permitted. Enforcement is progressive: warnings, fines, suspension, then revocation, with immediate action for serious violations.
A recent regulatory note: Glynn County raised its hotel-motel tax to 7% effective July 1, 2025, but Jekyll Island is reported to be exempt from that increase per the October 2025 profile data. Verify current rates before operating.
Market Comparison
The U.S. STR median occupancy is approximately 55% and median ADR approximately $220. Jekyll Island’s April 2026 occupancy of 62.4% exceeds the national median by roughly 7 percentage points, and ADR of $360 exceeds it by 64%. Even in the trough month (January, 39.7% occupancy), ADR holds at $232, still above the national ADR median.
The rental demand score of 86.43 out of 100 is the market’s standout metric, reflecting that 3 million annual visitors on an island with limited and tightly regulated inventory creates durable demand pressure.
Among professional operators, Hodnett Cooper Vacation Rentals leads with 349 listings and 6,784 reviews at a 4.72 average rating. Vacasa holds second at 292 listings (9,241 reviews, 4.56 rating). RedAwning ranks third with 236 listings (4,646 reviews, 4.46 rating), followed by Lighthouse Vacations with 187 listings (8,334 reviews, 4.86 rating) and Real Escapes with 184 listings (6,523 reviews, 4.68 rating). The top two operators hold 641 listings against a dataset of approximately 5,394 total tracked units. Regional specialists (Hodnett Cooper, Lighthouse Vacations, Real Escapes) dominate the top-five over national platforms, which is typical of island markets where local knowledge and relationships with the JIA matter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jekyll Island, Georgia
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